Liquid-flow-measuring apparatus.



G. H. GIBSON.

LIQUID FLOW III]EIISUIIIIIIQI/ u APPARATUS,

APPLICATION FIIED FEB. 5, I9I3.

InIenImI Aug. QSI, IEIIII.

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2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

.f .I MIIIPMMMI/ I I maw G. H. GiBSUN.

LIQUID How MEASURING mAH/nus APPLICATION HLED FEIL 5,19!" l 9 l @@fw Patented Aug'. 2), 19H5.

3fm/vento@ Original `application filed January 12, 1912, Serial No. 670,862. Divided 'i l 5,1913. seriaijno. 746,230.

intimen erariale rarnnrorricn.

GEORGE H. GIBSON, F IVIONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR-TO JOSEPH S. LOVERING WHAR'ION, WILLIAM S. HALLOW'ELL, AND JOHN C. J' ONES, .ALL OF PHILADELPHIA., NSYLVANIA, TRADING IN'SAID PHILADELPHIA AS HARRISON SAFETY BOILEE Wenns.

To 2f/ZZ whom t may concern y Be it known that I, Gnoucn H. GisoN, a citizen of the United States of America, re siding in Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of NeWJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid- Flow Measuring Apparatus, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, thereof.

My present invention relates to liquid measuring apparatus of the kind in which the liquid to be measured is caused to flow over a Weir.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved means, simple in construction andreli ible' in operation, by which the amount liquid flowing is determined from the varying ,accumulation of liquid on the supply side of the Weir, which varies in a known mnner as the flow over the Weir increases. aild diminishes.

The vaiious features of novelty which characterizemy invention are pointed out with particulapity in the claims annexed to and forming a 'part of this speciication.

F or a'bette'r understanding ci the invention, however, and the advantages possessed by it, reference should be hadl to the accompanying drawings and, descriptiveipatter in which l have illustrated and described one form in which my invention may be .embodied.

Of the drawings: Figure l is an elevation, partly broken away and'in section, of a combined water heating and measuring apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 2-2 oit' Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken, on the line '3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. l is an elevation offa portion of the bucket weighing mechanism employed; and Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the `pressure fluid supply piping employed. 4

In the particular form of apparatus with which my` present invention is used, which is shown by the drawings, A represents an open feed water heater of well known type. The discharge pipe J from the heater A leads to a closed Weir chamber K, opening to the latter on the supply side of the Weir lil located within the Weir chamber. As

which form a part Specification of Letters Patent.

LIQUIDeFLOW-MEASURING APPAATUS.

llmatented ingu 29,. Milli.

and this application led February shown, the Weir K is formed With a plu? rality of V-shaped notches or orifices K2 in its upper edge, the apices of these orilices being all at the same level.

Kil-represents a baille arranged in the Weir chamber between the mouth of the pipel .l and the Weir K2 and advantageously. perforated as shown in its lower portion'. 'The purpose of the baile K3 is to insure a" quiet flow of Water to the Weir proper and anf avoidance ofeddy currents in thevvater on the supply side of the Weir. Y Thejtlow of Water from the heater tank into the Weir chamber is controlled by a valve J located in the pipe J and operated by the lloatEB located within the Weir chambeon the dis.- charge side of the Weir. y

K* represents -a pipe, chamber at the top of the latter, and to the heater above the water level therein. This pipe is employed to equalize the vapor pressure in the weir chamber and heater.

K represents the service discharge pipe opening to' the Weir` leading from the outlet compartment of the Weir chamber, and through which the heated and measured water is delivered for use to a boiler feed pump, laundry tubs or the like.

The combined water heating and Weir measuring apparatus shown possesses certain features of novelty character of the particular means employed for determining the amount of liquidflowing over the Weir, and these features are claimed in my prior Patent No. 1,096,621, granted vMay l2, 1914, lwherein this apparatus is described and illustrated in greater detail.

In the present case, said prior patent, the invention claimed pertains particularly to the means employed for determining the amount of liquid flowing over the weir.

`With Weir measuring apparatus of the character described it is Well known that the rate of dow over the Weir is a function of \tl1e height of Water level on the supply side of the weir. Where the Weir is formed with a V-shaped orilice or orices, such as the orifices K2, the flow is proportional to the five-halves power of the height of Water level on the supply vside of the Weir above 'the level of the Weir notch apen or apices,

independent oi': the

which is a division of ipo uf'here (a) is a constant.

llilith the apparatus disclosed herein I measure the llow ot water over the Weir by means of a bucket Q suspended in the Weir ychamber on the discharge side of the'weir with the bottom of the cavity in the bucket located at the level ci' the weir notch apices. The interior of the bucket Q is connected to the supply side of the weir below the level of the weir notch apices by a flexible pipe Q2 which may be formed of rubber hose. lVith this arrangement it is obvious that the bucket will be illed with water at all times'to the level of the water on the supply side of the weir, andthose skilled in the art will understand that the weight of the bucket and its contents will be a function 'of the rate of How over the Weir. Preferably I 'sh'ape the interior surface of the bucket so' that the weight of the water contained by it will bear a constant ratio to the rateI of vliow over the Weir as the height of water level on the supply side of the weir rises and falls. Those skilled in the art will have no diiliculty'in determining the shape to be given to the inner surface of the bucket Q, in order to obtain the desired proportional readings when the law governing i the llow over the particular weir with which the bucket is to be used is determined, as it may be,.both theoretically and eXperimen-- tally, by methods well known to those skilled in the art.

In the apparatus disclosed lluid pressure mea-usare employed for measuring the varying weight ofthe water contained in the bucket Q. This lluid pressure measuring apparatus comprises a vertical cylinder M having its endsclosed by flexible diaphra gms N formed of sheet metal or other suitable material. The diaphragme N are connected at their centers to the heads OA and OB of a vertically movable yoke member @which surrounds the cylinder M and is connected to and supports the stem Q of the bucket Q. The 4cylinder M is provided with supporting arms M carrying vertical adjusting screws M2 at their outer ends. These screws rest on Ilthe inturned flange L2 o'f a supporting member L which is secured to the tcp wall of the weir chamber and is normally closed at its upper end by the cover. plate L. One of the arms M is provided with' an upturned portion M3 receiving the horizontal adjustable screw M4 adapted to be forced against the cylindrical Awall of the f of the yoke member O and bucket Q. As4

shown, the stem of the valve P passes through a yoke member P2 located within the upper compartment of the cylinder M and having a stein P3 adjustably connected to the yoke O. The stem of the valve P- is provided with a collar P normally pressed against the bottom of the yoke P2 by the spring P4, the latter yielding, howevei'-, to limit the maximum pressure with which the `valve P may be forced against its seat; I

R represents a counter-balancing lever pivotally connected bythe knife edge pivot R to a bracket M" carried by the cylinder M, and pivotally connected by the knifeedge pivot R? to the stem Q of the bucket Q. The lever R carries an adjustable counter-weight R4; Preferably, the lever R and counter-weight R* are adjusted to exactly bala-nce the weight of the bucket Q, and parts moving with. the latter, when the bucket is empty, so th'at the pressure maintained in the upper compartment of the cylinder M, as hereinafter described, may be directly proportional to the weight of the water held in the bucket Q, and hence may be directly proportional to the flow over lS2 will depend upon the leakage from the' be practically independentqw pipe@ and will of the pressure on the supply side of the dia- ,phragm The ylower compartment of the cylinder M is connected to the external atimosphere by the exhaust pipe U. Preferably portions of the pipes U and S within l the weir chamber are made flexible to facilitate the adjustment of the cylinder M with respect to the support L. For instance, y these pipe portions may be lead.

In operation the compressed air or other member L to thereby force the outer end of l pressure fluid is constantly but slowly supthe other arms M against the cylindrical wall of the member L and thus rigidly fix the cylinder M in any desired adjustment with respect te the cylinder L.k The cylinplied to the upper end of the cylinder M by the-pipe S. When the pressure in the upper compartment olf/the cylinder M becomes higher than 1s required to balance the weight thus permitting the pressure fluid to escape from the upper compartment'ot the ycylinder with a consequent reduction in pressure therein. Normally the valve P is cracked so that a restricted but constant discharge through the port controlled by the valve takes place. When the pressure in the upper compartment of the cylinder M becomes in- Asuilicient to balance the weight of the water in the bucket Q the more or .less complete closure of the valve '1) quickly results in building the pressure in the upper compart-A ment .up to the proper value.'

lnasmueh as the pressure in the upper compartment of the cylinder M and the por- I tion of the pipe S betweenit and the section S" is proportional to the quantity ofwater flowing over the weir, an ordinary pressure gage, suitably graduated, may be employed to give direct readings of the rate of flow ,iin suitable quantity units. 1n the drawings, `such a gage is indicated at W7. The varying pressure in the conduit system on the outlet side of the section S may be employed to actuate suitable recording and registering mechanism. l have not thought it necessary to illustrate and describe such recording and registering mechanism herein as they form no part of my present invention. Moreover, examples of such mechanism are disclosed in my prior application Serial filed January 12th, 1912. tioned application also contains claims to certaixrfeatures of the construction-and arrangement of the measuring apparatus proper disclosed but not claimed herein.

While in accordance with the provisions oi' the statutes I have illustrated and described the best form of my invention now lrnown to me, it will be apparentv to those slrillediii the art that changes may be made `in the form ofthe apparatus disclosed withlout departing "from the spirit of my inven- V tion and that under some conditions certain features or' my invention may be used with advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what IA claim as new and desire toA secure by lietters Patent, is: l l 1. ln How measuring apparatus the com binarios of a weil over which al@ liquid to bemeasured flows, a substantially stationary receptacle, provisions for maintaining liquid therein to the height of the liquid llevel on the supply side of the weir, said receptacle being so shaped with respect tothe law of iiow over the weir that the weight of the liquid contained by the receptacle bears a constant ratio to the varying rate of flow No. 670,863,4 The last mein' over the weir, and means for measuring the varying weight of the liquid in said receptacle.

2. In a liquid flow measuring apparatus, the combination with a weir over which the liquid to be measured liows, of a weighing mechanism, a receptacle supported thereby,-

means connecting the interior of said re! ceptacle to the supply side of the weir while permitting the receptacle to move relative to the weir7 said receptacle` being so sha )ed and arranged that the varying weight of said receptacle and the liquid therein, as the liquid-level therein varies to correspond to variations in the height of liquid level on the Supply side of the weir, will be in linear proportion to the rate of iiow over the weir.

3. In flow measuring apparatus the combination of a weir chamber yand a weir `therein over which the liquid to vbe measured flows, a receptacle open tothe supply side of the weir at or below the lowermost level of overiiow over the Weir, receptacle supporting means including provisions actuated by slight movements of said receptacle for exerting the variable-force required to sustain said receptacle in a substantially stationary position as the weight of the liquid within vthe receptacle varies with variations in the height of liquid level on the supply side of the Weir.

' 4. In flow measuring apparatusthe combination of a closed weir chamber and a lWeir* therein over which the liquid to be measured flows, a receptacle located in said chamber and open to the supply side of the 'weir at or below the lowermost level of overilow over the Weir, receptacle supporting means located within the weir chamber and including provisions actuated by slight movements of said receptacle for exerting the variable force required to' sustain said receptacle in a substantially stationary position as the weight of the liquid within the receptacle varies withV variations in thel height of liquid level on the supply side of the Weir, and means without said chamber for measuring said variable force.

5. In ilow measuring apparatus the combination of a closed weir chamber and a weir therein over which. the liquid to be measured flows, a receptacle located in said chamber and open to the supply side of the l weir at or below the lowermost level of overflow ,over the weir, receptacle supporting means located within the Weir chamber and vincluding fluid pressure provisions actuated by slight movements of said receptacle for exerting the variable force required to sustain said receptacle in a s ubstantially\sta tionary position as theweight of theliquid within t e receptacle varies with variations f -in the height of liquid level lon 'the side of the Weir, and means Without said chamber for measuring said variable force.

6. In flow measuring apparatus the combination ot' a closed Weir chamber and a Weir therein over which the liquid to be measured flows, a receptacle located in said cha1nber, and open to the supply side of the u'eir at or below the lowermost level of overflow over the Weir, a receptacle supporting means located within the Weir chamber and including iiuid pressure provisions independent of the pressure in said chamber' and actuated by slight movements of said receptacle for exerting the variable force required to sustain said receptacle in a substantially stationary position as the Weight of the liquid Within the receptacle varies with variations Iin the height of liquid level on the supply side of the Weir, and means wt]v out said chamber for measuring said variable force.

7. In llow measuring apparatus the combination ot a closedl Weir chamber and a Weir therein over which the liquid to be measured Hows, a receptacle located in said chamber, and provisions for maintaining liquid therein to the level of the liquid on the supply side of the \veir,`said receptacle being so formed with respect to the law of ioiv over the Weir that the weight of liquid contained by the receptacle -bears a constant ratio to the rate of flow as the latter varies, and receptacle supporting means located Within the Weir chamber and including provisions actuated b v slight movements of said receptacle .for exerting the variable force required to sustain said receptacle as the weight of the liquid within the receptacle varies.

8. ln a device for measuring the tlow of liquid, a Weir box, a movable liquid container, a connection between said container and box whereby the liquid in said box may flow into said container, said container being so formed as to receive a weight oi the liquid therein proportionate to the rate of flow over the Weir notch, there being communication between said container and said GEORGE H. GIBSON.

lVitnesses:

JOHN H. SHERMAN, ROBERT G. CLIFTON. 

